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Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 00-11-21
CONTENTS
[01] `We must treat foreign workers like human beings, not tools'
[02] Hasikos pledges Cyprus co-operation for Euro defence force
[03] CY puts back decision on new planes
[04] BoC down on Athens market
[05] Minister urges extra efforts on immigrants
[06] Two killed in on Polis road
[01] `We must treat foreign workers like human beings, not tools'
KISOS Deputy Takis Hadjidemetriou yesterday accused the government of being
racist against foreign workers by overlooking their rights and needs. The
Labour minister admitted there was a lack of policies to deal with the
whole problem. Addressing the House Finance Committee, convening yesterday
to discuss the Labour Ministry's annual budget, Hadjidemetriou said there
were 40,000 foreign workers on the island (13 per cent of the country's
labour force) contributing significantly to the economy, but at the same
time being treated like working tools by both society and state. The deputy
said many foreign workers came to Cyprus from poor and developing countries
like Sri Lanka or Iran in the hope of finding a better life. But these
people were being completely cut off from social life and had no chance of
joining society, he complained to Labour Minister Nicos Moushiouttas, who
was present at the meeting. "Ten years ago, the government promised it
would come up with social policies to support foreign workers. We have not
seen anything yet. The setting up of a Support Centre for foreign workers
was decided long ago. The state had even found the place to set up the
centre but it later abandoned the idea. We have been waiting and waiting
for something to happen to the point we got frustrated. I would like to
know the government's response to the problems of those people who offer us
so much every day. "I suggest setting up a support centre for workers to
address their many problems, be they social or financial. I am afraid the
Solomou Square kiosk is offering social support to these people because the
government is not doing so. It gives workers the opportunity to make cheap
phone calls. It has a bench for them to sit down and socialise. Why don't
you sponsor the kiosk?" he lashed out at the minister. Hadjidemetriou said
a support centre would not be expensive to operate and suggested it could
even be run by the workers themselves once it was up and running. He
saluted the organisation of a multicultural festival, which took place two
weeks ago at the Municipal Gardens, and said: "These people's cultures are
as important as our culture and we could benefit from them as they could
benefit from us. Do not shut those people out of your life. Do not make
them feel left out. They would appreciate it if we treated them less like
working tools and more like human beings." Moushiouttas said he was sorry
for not being able to report some progress on the matter, but admitted it
was serious and had to be dealt with. "Unfortunately, the Finance Minister
turned down our request to set up a centre at the place we had found more
than a year ago because it had already been appropriated. We failed to find
another place after that." But the KISOS deputy demanded that a centre for
foreign workers be set up as a matter of urgency, pointing out that Cyprus
was bound by international provisions calling for the social support of
foreign workers. AKEL deputy George Lillikas, who agreed with his KISOS
colleague, cited the fact that foreign workers were mistreated at work and
sometimes deported for no reason. "When an employer complains to the
government about a foreign worker, accusing them of some wrongdoing, they
could lose their job instantly and face deportation without having the
chance to defend themselves and prove their employers wrong." The
Committee shared Hadjidemetriou's concerns and the matter will be further
discussed in another meeting.
[02] Hasikos pledges Cyprus co-operation for Euro defence force
THE EU should take Cyprus' participation in any peace missions organised by
the future European army as a given, Defence Minister Socrates Hasikos said
yesterday. Speaking to reporters at Larnaca Airport before his departure
for Brussels to take part in a meeting of Defence Ministers from the 15
member states and the candidate countries, Hasikos said Cyprus could offer
the European rapid defence force its services and infrastructure. Replying
to questions, the Defence Minister said: "It is a fact that Turkey, and
especially Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, have at times expressed
concern over Cyprus' involvement in this European force, but this does not
affect our contribution, in view of Cyprus' course to join the EU." Earlier
this month, Denktash accused the Greek Cypriot side of playing games with
the Turkish Cypriots, the UN and the EU after the National Guard took part
in a pan-European military exercise. Four Greek Cypriot military officers
flew to Austria to take part for the first time in a European joint
exercise held within the framework of NATO's `Partnership for Peace'. The
exercise, under a simulated state of war and involving 13 countries, was
held on November 9 and 10. Denktash repeated his view that Cyprus should
not join the EU before a settlement to the Cyprus problem and warned that
the Greek Cypriot side's approach to the EU army issue could affect the
ongoing UN-led proximity talks. In a statement issued on Saturday, the
Turkish Cypriot `authorities' said Cyprus and Greece were working to give a
base to the EU army, which "would disrupt the balance in Cyprus and in the
region". "The other intention and ambition of this game is annihilating the
Turkish Cypriots, giving legal status to the national troops of guardsmen
which were set up against the laws and constitution to annex the island to
Greece," the statement said. "On behalf of the people of the TRNC, we have
drawn the attention of the concerned countries and the United Nations to
this issue, which has been on the agenda for months. We will not be
responsible for such a development and a wrong decision taken to this end."
The statement repeated that the issue could affect the talks, going as far
as to say that if the Greek Cypriot side continued its "unilateral
initiative" under the umbrella of the EU, "it will close the door for the
proximity and direct talks". Proximity talks are set to resume in Geneva at
the end of January next year.
[03] CY puts back decision on new planes
CYPRUS Airways (CY) has deferred its decision on the purchase or lease of
new planes at least until after Christmas. The airline has been so
inundated with sales pitches from both Boeing and Airbus that it will take
much longer to evaluate the options than originally thought, CY sources
said. The national carrier has already received two huge portfolios from
Airbus and Boeing, the main contenders, plus leasing proposals from four
companies. "It will take us until the end of the year to get through these,
" an airline source said. In addition, representatives from International
Aero Engineers (IAE) the company whose engine CY uses in its Airbuses, are
expected on the island at the beginning of next month to court the airline
further. CY was originally to decide by the end of the summer period
whether to replace its four Airbus A310s and on further fleet expansion but
the decision is now likely to take much longer. CY currently has 12
Airbuses, eight A320s, which seat 165 passengers each, and four A310s,
which seat 241. Three of the A320s are leased to CY's charter arm
Eurocypria. The average age of the fleet is 10.7 years. The A310s, however,
are getting older and expensive to maintain and CY has thought about either
replacing them or leasing new aircraft, and is in the process of preparing
a fleet plan for the next 10 years. The A310s are mainly used for the
longer-distance routes to the UK and Europe and have a higher daily use.
The airline still has a £40 million loan on the current fleet from the
original £200 million cost. CY took delivery of its first two Airbus A310s
in the spring of 1984 and ordered a third for delivery in 1985. The same
year, the company ordered four A320s for delivery in 1989 with an option
for an additional one for later delivery. CY in fact became one of the five
launching airlines of the A320 programme. In 1987, the company decided to
exercise its option on four additional A320s for delivery in 1991 and 1992.
In addition to the possible replacement of the four A310s, CY is moving in
the direction of expansion and hope to acquire two or three smaller planes
of around 120 seats to help add frequency to short distance destinations
such as the Middle East and Athens. The company has already leased an
additional A320 for next summer. On Sunday, DIKO president Tassos
Papadopoulos expressed concern over the airline's plans, hinting that the
House did not wish to be presented with a huge loan guarantee as a fait
accompli. He said choosing new aircraft was complicated and should not be
left up to the airline's board alone. "I do not think the safest procedure
in selecting the most suitable aircraft is simply to take into account the
advantages of each type, which if course are put forward by the
manufacturing companies," he said, referring to the ongoing sale pitches.
CY sources said yesterday it was premature to talk about loan guarantees at
this stage since the airline had not decided whether to replace the fleet
or lease, or a combination of both. "It's impossible to know at this stage,
" the source said.
[04] BoC down on Athens market
By a Staff Reporter BANK of Cyprus (BoC) shares closed on a downward note
on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) yesterday. The stock ended at 2,905
(£4.88), 20 drachmas, or 0.68 per cent down on Friday's close, with 92,140
shares traded. The overall index on the ASE ended 2.16 per cent down
yesterday, with the banking sector sustaining losses of 2.13 per cent.
Trading on the Cyprus Stock Exchange has been suspended due to the closure
of the bourse until Thursday, when it moves to the more spacious IMC
building on the outskirts of Nicosia. Last week, BoC offered £1.5 million
in investment loans to staff to help boost the bank's share on the CSE. The
resultant heavy trading in BoC stocks managed to drag the all-share index
up from three successive record lows. BoC shares slid close to £4 in Cyprus
a week ago, marking a significant difference between its price on the CSE
and the ASE. BoC listed on the Athens Stock Exchange on November 8 and
traded successfully for the first two days but later fell victim to events
on the CSE, which is having one of the worst months in its history.
[05] Minister urges extra efforts on immigrants
INTERIOR Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou said yesterday the government
should reconsider the coastguard's equipment and measures taken regarding
illegal immigrants. Christodoulou said immigrants were always finding new
ways to outsmart marine police, so the force would have to find new ways to
become more effective. The minister said he had had a one-hour meeting with
President Glafcos Clerides yesterday morning, and that, among other things,
they had discussed the illegal immigrant issue. The President has decided
to hold a meeting this week of all parties concerned to discuss the issue,
Christodoulou said. The minister added he had contacted Syrian officials
and expected a reply from Damascus concerning 43 immigrants who landed near
Ayia Napa last week. "It is a matter of days for the illegal immigrants to
return to the country they came from," Christodoulou said. The immigrants
are currently being held at the central prison in Nicosia. Among them are
six women, two of whom are pregnant, and 13 children aged between one and
16. Christodoulou said the women and children were being held in a
specially designed facility, which did not resemble a prison cell. Cyprus
has agreements with Syria and Lebanon for the return of illegal immigrants
departing from their shores. Earlier yesterday, the minister watched a
search and rescue exercise in the Kellia area in the Larnaca district, held
within the framework of an agreement between Greece and Cyprus. The aim of
the exercise was to train search dogs and their handlers to find people
trapped under the rubble of fallen houses. It was led by an officer of the
Greek search and rescue teams, EMAK. Christodoulou said co-operation with
EMAK would continue, and the outfit would also help in the training of
other specialists, such as doctors, paramedic personnel, and civil
engineers.
[06] Two killed in on Polis road
By a Staff Reporter TWO YOUTHS were killed, two others injured, and a
mother and her seven children hurt in separate traffic accidents at the
weekend. In the early hours of Sunday, Constantinos Panayiotou 21, and
Demetris Piroutos, 16, died on the Paphos-Polis road when the car they were
travelling in left the road. Two friends also in the car, Andreas Yiacoupi,
15, and Savvas Charalambous, 16, were injured. Police said the accident
happened some 20 kilometres from Polis when the driver Panayiotou, lost
control of the car and careered off the right side of the road, where the
car overturned. Yiacoupi and Charalambous, who were sitting in the back
seat of the car, were thrown clear, but Panayiotou and Piroutis died
instantly. In the second accident on Sunday, Androulla Papaevagora, 28, the
wife of a priest, and her seven children aged between 10 months and 10
years were all injured when she lost control of the family minibus that she
was driving. The accident happened at 2.30pm near Liopetri, where the
family lives. Two of the children, Maria, six, and Constantinos, seven,
were admitted to hospital for observation, while two of the other children,
Kyriacos, 10, and Andriani, 10 months, were transferred to Nicosia General
Hospital for treatment. Their condition is said not to be serious.
Cyprus Mail 2000
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